[25] "The 'village smithy' stood in Brattle Street, Cambridge. There came a time
when the chestnut-tree that shaded it was cut down, and then the children
of the place put their pence together and had a chair made for the poet from
its wood."

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH

Longfellow (1807-82) is truly the children's poet. His poems are as
simple, pathetic, artistic, and philosophical as if they were intended to
tell the plain everyday story of life to older people. "The Village
Blacksmith" has been learned by thousands of children, and there is no
criticism to be put upon it. The age of the child has nothing whatever
to do with his learning it. Age does not grade children nor is poetry
wholly to be so graded. "Time is the false reply."